"Peripherally inserted central catheters: our experience from a cancer research centre"

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Devices
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are crucial for drug delivery in oncology.
• Understanding PICC-related complications is vital for patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and types of complications associated with PICC use in cancer patients over a one-year period.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 246 PICCs inserted between July 2012 and June 2013.
• Data collection involved procedure room records, medical records, radiology, and microbiology departments.
• 223 cases were included in the final analysis after data verification.

Main Results:

• A total of 223 PICCs were analyzed, with 14 cases (6.3%) requiring ultrasound (USG) guidance.
• Optimal duration of PICC use was achieved in 151 patients (67.7%).
• Infective complications occurred in 28 patients (12.5%), and mechanical complications in 44 patients (19.7%).

Conclusions:

• The study identified a relatively high rate of infective complications associated with PICC use.
• Despite complications, PICCs are considered an acceptable and valuable drug delivery system in oncology practice.